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As entertainment critic Roger
Ebert once said, "If you disagree with something I write, tell me so, argue
with me, correct me--but don't tell me to shut up. That's not the American way."

I think for the first time since season 3...I'm actually going to be rooting for a girl this season. Its been a long time.

An interesting dynamic tonight with my top ranked girls. They all took worn out, sometimes boring songs, and breathed new life into it in different ways. The girls do have some talent this season.

Top Tier---------

Crystal Bowersox - Gimme One Reason - Again, she's on top. Yes, Simon is pimping her but for a good reason - she deserves it. Kara and Simon were right. She has gotten her confidence, she is being herself, she is unique and talented and at the top of the heap right now. Excellent rendition of a song i'm very tired of. I enjoyed it.

Siobhan - House Of The Rising Sun - Could she pick a more cliched, overplayed, boring as hell song? No. But she did make it current and not boring. Amazing job.

Didi - Rhiannon - Again, overplayed, somewhat boring song, and Didi comes out with just her acoustic guitar and totally remakes the song and it fits her quirky voice to a tee.

Lilly - I Fall To Pieces - Totally risky! But that is Lilly. She brings out a 'classic country' Pasty Cline song and again makes it current. This girl is ALWAYS on pitch. She is amazing.

Mid-Tier---------

Lacey - The Story - Finally Lacey delivers. She is not going to go too far in this competition but it was nice to see her come through with a believable performance.

Bottom Tier------------

Katelyn - I Feel The Earth Move - Damn, that was a boring cruise-ship caliber performance. What happened? Total backslide.

Katie - Breakaway - Again with the Kelly Clarkson songs? How stupid. Besides, the performance was horrible. I think you could be going home.

Paige - Smile - Who told her that singing this song was a good choice? First off, its a damn hard song. Second - if a song makes you cry...would you perform it in teh Top 8 Girls week? Paige is going home.

geekboy

"I think what Randy Travis was trying to say was 'What the hell was that?!'" - S. Cowell

Last Tuesday I said the show was in danger of having its weakest Top Twelve ever. I'm more optomistic after last Wednesday's performances and especially tonight's offerings - the best semifinal round so far this season. We may still have the weakest crop of boys ever though.

One thing that does puzzle me though is the amount of contestants that have voices I just innately don't care for (Lacey, Lily, Alex, up until tonight Didi). It's rather grating to have that many performers who you know, no matter how technically proficient, you'll still probably not find pleasing to the ear.

1.) Crystal Bowersox - Well done all around. She comes across like she's holding back though, like this is all very easy to her. Maybe it is.

2.) Siobhan Magnus - I think tonight was the weakest of her three semifinal performances, but Siobhan is the only girl to consistently excel and surprise each week. I love her vocal control and intensity.

3.) Didi Benami - A revelation. I actually enjoyed her tonight. Nice song choice, very emotionally attuned to the song . . . I'm curious whether she can build off this performance or if she just lucked into catching lightning in a bottle at the right time.

I listened to all the judges last night and found myself agreeing with them a lot. Weird.

Didi - it was gorgeous. Love the song. Love her voice.Siobhan - I like how you never know what she's going to do.Crystal - you always know what she's going to do. I'd like to see her try something else. It's bordering same-same territory.Lilly - she makes me smile. Brave song choice.Lacey - I really like her. I do not, however, like her chances in this.Katelyn - hmmm. Didn't like it.Katie - She's a very throaty singer. Or something. The girls are too strong for her to stay around.Paige - I could tell she was trying not to cry. She should have reached a bit more when Ryan asked her why. She could have gone for pity votes.

We know that AI has vocal coaches and behind the scenes help. Did those people go on strike this year? Because it doesn't seem like they are helping **anyone**.

Why would they let Paige sing Smile when it is a technically hard song to do and she couldn't make it through rehearsals without breaking down? And the arrangement? Sucked!

Where was the feedback for Katelyn that she was just blah with that song? Or did she purposely downplay her skills? Seemed like it. I don't know whether the arrangement or the tempo was to blame.

And for Katie--has she gotten any behind the scenes help at all? After some pre-semifinals pimping and the pimp spot at top 24, it seems like they are trying to derail her. Sing a young current song! Yet Sioban sings one from 1964 and is praised. I imagine that Katie could sing a song from the 60's and deliver it, but then she'd be singing "old". Sigh. Like I felt at the beginning, they don't want another Kat McPhee who has struggled to find an audience after her season. If Katie makes the top 12, likely she'll be an early out.

Didi--now she seems like a plant, because we know she can stand and deliver. Were they just messing with her last week? I like her but I think I might tire of her over the weeks because she uses the same nuances and stylings in each song.

Lilly, Lacey, not my thing. Are they headed down the country path this early? Still waiting for Lacey to do a Dolly song.

Ranking:

1. Crystal --thank goodness for Crystal. I feel like she's calling BS in her head as she listens to the judges. I have a feeling she doesn't respect them much or their games that she sees that they are playing. Yet, she is the one benefitting from the games.

(gap)

2. Siobhan-- I liked the accapella part and I hope she does an entire song without the band at some point. I think she's studied the show.

(huge gap)

3. Ugh. Why did I spend time on the show? I may have to go back to waiting for the top 12 to be announced before watching. This is getting to be a big drag.

All she wants to do is sing and make money. Sang in a subway? Can't get much tougher than that. No money to fix her teeth, nevermind whiten them. Could have lost them as a result of her Diabetes. Who knows? Aren't getting all the back story we got with Danny Gokey. She is flat out in this to win it - no sob stories and no BS necessary for her. I think that is why Simon likes her so much.

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